FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE OF AUTOMATED SYSTEMS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF HORIZON, INNOPAC AND VTLS

This paper provides functional performance data drawn from an analysis of the capabilities and functionality of three major library automati on systems - HORIZON, INNOPAC and VTLS. The assessment was based on ve ndor input as well as on feed back from libraries of different types f rom different parts of the world. Objective criteria based on a numeri cal scoring scheme was used to assess system performance in six major functional areas: acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, public access catalogue, reference and information services and serials control. Th e functional performance data is expected to be useful for libraries l ooking for new systems as well as those already computerised and inter ested in enhancing their present systems. In addition, data on the ext ent of the utilisation of system capabilities by libraries should also be of interest to system vendors.